RECOGNIZING ANSWERED PRAYERS

RECOGNIZING ANSWERED PRAYERS: "...In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me..." Jonah2:1-2 wp.me/p29yfQ-zJ #prayer

The Breastplate Of Rightousness – Neil Anderson

The Breastplate Of Rightousness – Neil Anderson

 

Ephesians 6:14 

Having put on the breastplate of righteousness . . .

 

The second piece of armor God has provided for us is the breastplate of righteousness . When you put on Christ at salvation, you are justified before our holy God. It's not your righteousness but Christ's (1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 3:8, 9). So when Satan aims an arrow at you by saying, "You're not good enough to be a Christian," you can respond with Paul, "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies" (Romans 8:33). Your righteousness in Christ is your protection against Satan's accusations.

 

Even though we rejoice in our position of righteousness in Christ, we are well aware of our deeds of unrighteousness when we think, say, or do something apart from God. Standing firm in our righteousness requires us to live in continuous agreement with God according to 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confession is different from saying "I'm sorry" or asking forgiveness. To confess ( homologeo ) means to acknowledge or to agree. You confess your sin when you say what God says about it: "I entertained a lustful thought and that's a sin"; "I treated my spouse unkindly this morning and that was wrong"; "Pride motivated me to seek that board position and pride doesn't belong in my life."

 

Satan will make confession as difficult for you as he can. He will try to convince you that it's too late for confession, that God has already erased your name out of the book of life. That's another one of his lies. You're in Christ; you're already forgiven. You are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), and He will never leave you. Your confession of sin clears the way for the fruitful expression of righteousness in your daily life. We should be like Paul, who said, "I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men" (Acts 24:16).

 

Prayer: Lord, I put on the breastplate of righteousness today and seek to maintain a blameless conscience before You and the people around me.

 

I'M STILL STANDING

I'M STILL STANDING: “By faith Noah...built an ark to save his family....” Heb11:7 wp.me/p29yfQ-zE #stillstanding #faith #neveralone

The Belt Of Truth – Neil Anderson

The Belt Of Truth – Neil Anderson

 Ephesians 6:14 

Having girded your loins with truth

The first piece of armor for the Christian warrior is the belt of truth . Jesus said, "I am . . . the truth" (John 14:6). And because Christ is in you, the truth is in you. However, continuing to choose truth is not always easy. Since Satan's primary weapon is the lie, your belt of truth (which holds the other pieces of body armor in place) is continually being attacked. If he can disable you in the area of truth, you become as easy target for his other attacks.

You stand firm in the truth by relating everything you do to the truth of God's Word. If a thought comes to mind which is not in harmony with God's truth, dismiss it. If an opportunity comes along to say or do something which compromises or conflicts with truth, avoid it. Adopt a simple rule of behavior: If it's the truth, I'm in; if it's not the truth, count me out.

When you learn to live in the truth on a daily basis, you will grow to love the truth because you have nothing to hide. You never have to cover up to God or anyone else; everything you do is in the light. Furthermore, when you live in the truth you dislodge the lies of Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). Remember that if Satan can deceive you into believing a lie, he can control your life.

Jesus prayed, "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). How? "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is truth" (verse 17). You will only dislodge Satan's lies in the light of God's revelation, and not by human reasoning or research.

The only thing a Christian ever has to admit to is the truth. Walking in the light and speaking the truth in love may seem threatening to some. But in reality truth is a liberating friend and the only path to fellowship with God.

Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for entertaining lies and walking in darkness. Give me courage to face the truth and to speak the truth in love.

 

 

The Full Armor Of God

Ephesians 6:13 

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm

A primary element in our protection from Satan and evil is the armor that God has provided for us and instructed us to put on in Ephesians 6:13-17. When we put on the armor of God, we are really putting on Christ (Romans 13:12-14). And when we put on Christ, we take ourselves out of the realm of the flesh, where we are vulnerable to attack, and we place ourselves within the dominion of Christ, where the evil one cannot touch us. Satan has nothing in Christ (John 14:30), and to the extent that we put on Christ, the evil one cannot touch us (1 John 5:18). He can only touch that which is on his own level. That's why we are commanded, "Make no provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14), meaning "Don't live on Satan's level."

It would appear from the verb tenses in Ephesians 6;14, 15, that three of the pieces of armor--belt, breastplate and shoes--are already on you: "having girded . . ."; "having put on . . ."; having shod. . . ." These pieces of armor represent the elements of your protection made possible when you receive Jesus Christ and in which you are commanded to stand firm. The Greek tense of "having" signifies that the action it refers to was completed before we were commanded to stand firm. That's the logical way a soldier would prepare for action: He would put on his belt, breastplate and shoes before attempting to stand firm. Likewise, we are to put on the full armor of God after having already put on Christ.

When you read through Ephesians 6:10-20, you will notice the emphasis on the active part we must play on behalf of our own spiritual defense: "be strong" (verse 10); "put on" and "stand firm" (verse 11); "take up," "be able," "resist," and "stand firm" (verse 13); "stand firm" (verse 14); "taking up" (verse 16); "take" (verse 17)' "pray at all times" and "be on the alert" (verse 18).

Over the next several days, we will consider each of the six pieces of armor from Ephesians 6:13-17.

Prayer: Teach me my responsibility in spiritual warfare, Lord, that I may be strong in You and in the strength of Your might.

FORMER THINGS

 “Some of you were once like that. But...you were made right with God....” 1Cor6:11 wp.me/p29yfQ-zA #saved #changed

PERSONAL SAVIOR

PERSONAL SAVIOR: “4 I know that my Redeemer lives, & at the last He will stand upon the earth.” Jb19:25 wp.me/p29yfQ-zv #relationship

Peace with God

Peace with God – Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 5:1-2

One day I posed a question to the waitress at my table: “If you could ask God for anything, what would your request be?” Her answer was immediate. “I want to feel at peace.” She tearfully explained that her grandmother had died and emotional turmoil resulted.

Many in our world are like this young woman, in that they desire inner calmness but have no relationship with the Lord. People often seek contentment by trying to improve their appearance, physical fitness, financial situation, or social status—or by abusing substances. But such things can’t bring tranquility of heart or mind. Only a relationship with Jesus leads to true peace.

Prior to salvation, we were slaves to sin and living in opposition to God (Col. 1:21). Our transgressions had formed a barrier of hostility between Him and us, which we were helpless to cross on our own. Without God’s intervention, we could not have found the way of peace. But our heavenly Father provided the perfect solution to our sin problem. He sent His Son to pay for our iniquities and remove the separation that existed between us and Him.

When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we were reconciled to the Lord (Rom. 5:10) and no longer at odds with Him. In Christ, we have peace with the Father.

Our triune God has provided everything we need for inner tranquility. The Father opened the way for us to be in His family. Jesus continually offers His peace so we can experience serenity of mind and heart (John 14:27). And the Holy Spirit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives (Gal. 5:22).

THE PATIENCE OF GOD

 “...God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” Rm2:4 wp.me/p29yfQ-zr #patience #kindness #forgiven

For Facing Our Own Death by Charles R. Swindoll

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die."   
—John 11:25–26

Our Father, this is a sacred moment because we all must answer the question, "Am I ready to die?" And not until we're ready to die are we truly ready to live.

We acknowledge that death is the last thing we want to think about, but thank You for bringing us face-to-face with reality. Thank You for the gift of living on earth and the reminder that our days are fleeting. Make us ready for the harsh moments that are before us, calm our spirits, and remove our fears.

Thank You for Jesus Christ, who is the answer beyond the grave. This day, we acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior of life and death.

Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.

For Christ is risen indeed. In His name we pray. Amen.

See also Psalm 90:12; 116:15; Romans 8:23; Hebrews 9:27; Jude 1:24–25.

Stop Fussing . . . and Focus Instead

Stop Fussing . . . and Focus Instead
by Charles R. Swindoll

Mary . . . sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it."
—Luke 10:39–42 MSG

Father, we acknowledge that anxiety is not simply a worrisome little habit but rather, it is a sin . . . a repeated sin. Worry compromises our fellowship with You and with others. We thank You that the death of Your Son, Jesus, provided the payment in full for our sins, including the sin of worry. We trust Him to take care of our worries, just as the psalmist said, "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

We pray that You will quiet our hearts. As You do, please lead us to a quiet and sure confidence in Yourself. Take the things that we needlessly fuss over—those worries that have burdened us long enough—and erase them from our minds. Please teach us to focus on You instead—to sit at Your feet in quietness. And as we cast the heavy weight of anxiety on You, we will trust You to give us instead a peace that surpasses understanding and a confidence that You are at work—even though we remain in the same circumstances. Thank You ahead of time for how You will deal with the burdens that weigh heavily on our hearts. Thank You for how You will relieve the anxieties that cause us to miss the important things in life.

See also Psalm 55:22; Proverbs 12:25; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 6:31–34; Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7.

THE LONGEST DAY:

THE LONGEST DAY: “..There has never been a day like it..Surely the Lord was fighting 4 Israel”Jg10:12-14 wp.me/p29yfQ-zm #impossible

How Faith Affects Our Lives – Dr. Neil Anderson

 Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

After Jesus claimed to be sent by God, some were seeking to seize Him, having come to the conclusion that He was not a good man. But others did believe in Him, "and they were saying, 'When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?'" (John 7:31). All the evidence was there. Some chose to believe; others chose not to. People do the same today. Faith is a choice. We choose to believe or not believe.

Faith is the operating principle of life. It is the means by which we relate to God and live our lives in freedom. Notice the variety of ways stated in Scripture by which faith affects our lives.

First, we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Second, we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Third, being found faithful is a prerequisite for ministry: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service" (1 Timothy 1:12). Paul then adds, "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). This is more than being reliable, since a person could be counted on to follow through on an assignment and not be a believer. The added ingredient in faithful people is that they know the truth and can be counted on to be reliable.

Fourth, the quality of any relationship is determined by faith or trust: "Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?" (Proverbs 20:6). The words faith , trust and believe are all the same word ( pistis ) in the original language. The man who has faith believes in something. The one who believes also trusts, or he doesn't truly believe. There is no concept that looms larger in life than faith because what we believe determines how we live.

Prayer: Lord, I affirm that I cannot please You without faith. I choose today to believe in You and trust in Your name.

FACT OR FRAUD

 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Lk12:34 wp.me/p29yfQ-zi #truth #treasure

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA

 “...You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea”Mic7:19 wp.me/p29yfQ-zd #forgiven #debtfree #free

Devotion

"...Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah ..." (1 Samuel 22:5).

David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life's down-and-out had come and joined David's army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God's prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah. Judah means "praise."

When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving in the right direction. He does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement. He wants us to move into the land of praise.

I recall when I went through a very difficult time. It seemed to drag on and on with no change until finally I wanted to retreat to a cave and forget pressing on. It was a great time of discouragement. A godly man came to me and said, "You must keep moving! There are too many who are depending on you in the Kingdom."

I didn't totally understand what he meant at the time. Now I know he was saying that God is preparing each of us to be the vessel He wants to use in the life of another person, but we will never be that vessel if we give up and hide in our cave of discouragement. Not only must we keep moving, we must move into a new realm. Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise.

"He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners - to comfort all who mourn. ... a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor" (Isa 61:1-3).

It is only when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems. Make a decision today to go into the land of Judah.

By Os Hillman

ADOPTED

ADOPTED: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family...& it gave him great pleasure.”Eph1:5 wp.me/s29yfQ-adopted #family #love

First Instinct

First Instinct
By Skip Heitzig

Worry is a huge problem. As used in the Bible, the word worry means to divide the mind. You know what that’s like: You try to focus on something but other things steal your thoughts away. It’s difficult to grab hold of God’s promises and walk in the Spirit when your mind is torn and divided.

Paul tells us, “Be anxious for nothing” (see Philippians 4:6-7 . That’s a command, and it’s such a strong one that it would be best rendered “stop worrying about even one single thing.” He is echoing Jesus, who told us not to worry about our life, or what we will eat or drink or wear (see Matthew 6:25-34).

Paul’s prescription for this problem is to replace what you’re worried about, those thoughts that consume your mind, with communication with God. Replace your fears, worry, and anxiety with prayer.

The word prayer is sometimes translated worship. When something bad happens, is our first instinct to stop and worship? No, usually we rush the throne of God and spout out the problem. But if we were to pause and to make our first trained instinct to worship God—to think about who we’re addressing and what He’s capable of, and give Him praise and honor—that would change our perspective!

Paul’s second word, supplication, means strong crying—begging God. Typically, that’s our first instinct. And the Bible says “Good! Pour out your heart to the Lord; make supplication.”

And the third is thanksgiving. Learn to thank God not just for the things you’ve prayed for that He has answered, but even when you pray for something and it doesn’t happen. “God, I’ve learned that You know better than I do. You know best. I’ve learned to trust You. You’ve brought this into my life because You want to mature me. Thank You.” Give God thanks because He is still God, and He knows what He’s doing. Learn to make that your first response.

In the story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed (see Luke 17:11-19 , only one came back to thank Him. That’s only ten percent. I wonder, with all the blessings God has given us, if only ten percent of the time we say, “God, I just want to thank You.” It may not be our first instinct, but it can become our learned instinct.

Only then come our requests, and the promise we have is the peace of God. Remember this: The peace that you experience (or don’t experience) as a Christian is related to the giving of thanks to God. I would even say that your peace is directly proportional to your ability to give thanks to God for the things He brings to your life.

Are you a peaceful person? I bet you thank God a lot. Are you an ill-at-ease person? I bet thanksgiving isn’t on your menu a lot of the time.

Charles Spurgeon said he would rather be blind, deaf and dumb than to not be thankful to God. So let’s make thanksgiving a habit, not only at this time, but throughout the year—our learned instinct

POSITIVE INFLUENCE:

POSITIVE INFLUENCE: The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”Prov14:1 wp.me/p29yfQ-z5

Is this from You Lord?

In every believer’s journey there will be a time when something seems like the perfect opportunity. Your emotions will be shouting, I couldn’t have dreamed this up! Your mind will be telling you, Oh, man! It doesn’t get any better than this! But God will be saying, This isn’t my will.

This is what happened to Dr. Elmer Towns, the co-founder of Liberty University. In his book God Encounters, he tells a story about a time when he turned down what appeared to be a perfect opportunity.

After resigning from a teaching job at a small Bible college, he accepted an offer with the National Sunday School Association to travel, speak, and teach to various denominations. This seemed like the perfect chance for national recognition, influence, and a wider ministry. But God had something else in mind.

In his book, Towns tells about the experience.

I woke up violently in the middle of the black night. Something was wrong. I began to sweat all over.

“Lord, what is it?”

The Lord was in the room, not physically, nor did I see a vision, nor did I hear an audible voice; but I knew that the Lord was standing by my bed to warn me of something. . . I prayed several times, “Lord, what are you trying to tell me?”

Then the Lord spoke to my heart, telling me not to take the new job I had just accepted. . . “Don’t take the job,” God kept saying.

Taking the job seemed like the right thing to do considering his gifts and talents, and how he could make the greatest impact. Not only that, but ever since Towns was a freshman in college he had wanted to be a Bible college president. This opportunity looked like a fast track to his dream.

However, after wrestling with God for a couple hours in prayer, Towns realized he was being driven by his ego. So he told the Lord that fame was not important and that he wouldn’t take the job—even if it meant never becoming a college president.

Then the Lord spoke to his heart, Don’t take the Sunday school job. . . but within a year I will give you a college presidency. He obeyed, continued to teach at the small Bible college, and kept trusting God.

One wintery day two months later, he decided to stop by his church to chat with his pastor, Robert MacMillan. While there, he told Pastor MacMillan about his dream to become a Bible college president. “That’s wonderful!” the pastor responded, then told Towns he had the talent to do the job. Just then the phone rang. It was a pastor friend of MacMillan’s from Toronto, Canada who asked, “Do you know where I can find a young man to be President of Winnipeg Bible College?”

“Your man is sitting right here,” MacMillan answered.

There will come a time when you will be convinced that the opportunity in front of you is right. But remember, not every good opportunity is a God opportunity. Stay flexible. Pray. Let Him guide you. He knows best.

 

By Shana Schutte, Blueprint for Life

 

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

 

WINNER!:

WINNER!: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Rom8:37 wp.me/s29yfQ-winner #win #nofear #Christ

Trusting For Fruit – Alistair Begg

Trusting For Fruit – Alistair Begg

John 15:4

How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourself on His great atonement and rested on His finished righteousness. What fruit you had then!

Do you remember those early days? Then the vine flourished, the tender grape appeared, the pomegranates budded, and the beds of spices produced their fragrance. Have you declined since then?

If you have, we charge you to remember that time of love, and repent, and do your first works. Commit yourself fully to the activities that you have proved to draw you closest to Christ, because it is from Him that all your fruits proceed.

Any holy activity that will bring you to Him will help you bear fruit. The sun is, no doubt, a great worker in fruit-creating among the trees of the orchard: And Jesus is even more so among the trees of His garden of grace.

When have you been the most fruitless? Has it not been when you have lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened in prayer, when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith, when your graces have engrossed your attention instead of your Lord, when you have said, "My mountain stands firm, I will never be moved" and you have forgotten where your strength lies-has not it been then that your fruit has ceased?

Some of us have been taught that we have nothing apart from Christ by terrible humiliation of heart before the Lord; and when we have seen the utter emptiness and death of all earthly power, we have cried in anguish, "From Him all my fruit must be found, for no fruit can ever come from me."

We are taught by past experience that the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ and wait upon the Holy Spirit, the more we will bring forth fruit unto God. We must trust Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

 

NOT TOO HOT...NOT TOO COLD

 “...U R lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth”Rev3:15-16 wp.me/p29yfQ-yW

The Benefits of Trials – Alistair Begg

1 Peter 1:7

Untested faith may be true faith, but it is sure to be small faith, and it is likely to remain little as long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: Tempests are her trainers, and bolts of lightning are her illuminators.

When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship does not move to its harbor; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too.

Let the winds rush and howl, and let the waters lift themselves, though the vessel may rock and her deck may be washed with waves and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway toward her desired haven.

No flowers are as lovely a blue as those that grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam as brightly as those that glisten in the midnight sky; no water tastes as sweet as that which springs up in the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity.

Tested faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness if you had not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God's strength if you had not been supported in the flood.

Faith increases in quality, assurance, and intensity the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.

Do not let this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: The full portion will be measured out to you in due course.

Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise Him for that degree of holy confidence you have now attained: Walk according to that rule, and you will still have more and more of the blessing of God, until your faith will remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.

When God Looks on Us with Favor – Dr. Charles Stanley

 

Isaiah 66:1-2

Believers are always under the canopy of God’s grace and love. Nothing we do can change that. At the same time, our behavior and heart condition do determine whether we receive the fullness of His blessings. Today’s passage teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor.

First, He desires that we have a contrite heart and a humble spirit (Ps. 51:17). For that to be the case, all aspects of our lives must be surrendered to Jesus. Yet some dreams, desires, and people are difficult to release into His hands.

Anything we do not give over to His authority is evidence of pride, the exact opposite of what our Father wants in His children. Remember that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Lack of submission proves that we think our way is better than His plan.

Second, God tells us to tremble at His Word (Isa. 66:2). Scripture—the unfolding revelation of Jesus Himself—is living and powerful to teach and transform us. Consider how we treat this treasure. Do we devote time each day to know what the Bible says and how to apply its principles? Do we hunger for more of the Word in our lives so we can know its Author better? One measure of our reverence is obedience: to honor the Lord, we must obey Him.

We all desire God’s favor. Are you living in a manner that positions you to receive His full blessings? Prayerfully consider whether you have submitted all areas of your life—from finances and health to relationships and work habits—to Jesus Christ. Recognize His authority in all things, and revere His Word.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

 “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly....” 1 Sam1:10-11 wp.me/p29yfQ-yS #trust #hope

Recipe for Less Stress

Recipe for Less Stress
WRITTEN BY: ADMIN - NOV• 08•13
Philippians 4:6 (ESV): “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Worried? Anxious? Feeling uneasy? Then, give God praise! When troubles... try to present themselves to be bigger than God, it only makes sense to remind ourselves of how BIG our God really is. It is hard to stay upset and anxious when we shift our thinking from the size of our problems to the size of our God. The recipe for less stress is simple; it only has two ingredients…a God-focused mind and a heart full of praise! Hills of fear melt like wax in the presence of our Lord (Psalm 97:5).

Surrender your worries to Christ today!

What We Receive – Alistair Begg

What We Receive – Alistair Begg

Colossians 2:6

The life of faith is represented as receiving-an act that implies the very opposite of anything like merit. It is simply the acceptance of a gift.

As the earth drinks in the rain, as the sea receives the streams, as night accepts light from the stars, so we, giving nothing, partake freely of the grace of God. The believers are not by nature wells or streams; they are just cisterns into which the living water flows; they are empty vessels into which God pours His salvation.

The idea of receiving implies a sense of realization, making the matter a reality. One cannot very well receive a shadow; we receive that which is substantial: So is it in the life of faith-Christ becomes real to us.

Until we come to faith, Jesus is just a name to us-a person who lived a long time ago, so long ago that His life is only a history to us now! By an act of faith Jesus becomes a real person in the consciousness of our heart. But receiving also means grasping or getting possession of. The thing that I receive becomes my own: I appropriate to myself that which is given.

When I receive Jesus, He becomes my Savior, so much so that neither life nor death will be able to rob me of Him. All this is to receive Christ-to take Him as God's free gift, to realize Him in my heart, and to appropriate Him as mine.

Salvation may be described as the blind receiving sight, the deaf receiving hearing, the dead receiving life; but we have not only received these blessings-we have received Christ Jesus Himself. It is true that He gave us life from the dead.

He gave us pardon from sin; He gave us imputed righteousness. These are all precious things, but we are not content with them; we have received Christ Himself. The Son of God has been poured into us, and we have received Him and appropriated Him. What a heart-full Jesus must be, for heaven itself cannot contain Him!

I could be wrong

I Could Be Wrong

WRITTEN BY: ADMIN - NOV• 07•13

Proverbs 17:10 (ESV): “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”

We like to think that we are right. Our views, our opinions, our advice…right, right, right. And, most of us, if we are honest, do not like to be corrected. The truth is, though, that there are many times when we are wrong. Pride can keep us from confessing those wrongs. Some of us have probably even sacrificed the health of a relationship just to defend our “wrong” position. This is not how love behaves. The Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write a beautiful definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. In this passage, he explains that love keeps no records of wrong; instead it rejoices in the truth. Let us act lovingly toward others and be willing to admit and correct our errors. In doing so, we defeat our enemy and glorify our Father.

Trust the correction of the Lord today!

I Have Engraved You – Alistair Begg

I Have Engraved You – Alistair Begg

Isaiah 49:16

No doubt part of the wonder that is concentrated in the word "Behold" is on account of the contrast with the unbelieving lament of the preceding sentence. Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief!

What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God's favored people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should make us blush.

He cries, "How can I have forgotten you, when I have engraved you on the palms of My hands? How dare you doubt My constant remembrance when the memorial is carved upon My own flesh?" O unbelief, what a strange marvel you are! We do not know what to wonder at most-the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him.

He never fails; He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapor; and yet we are as continually troubled with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears as if our God were a mirage of the desert.

"Behold" is a word intended to stir our admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marveling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain such a closeness to the heart of infinite love as to be written on the palms of His hands. "I have engraved you." It does not say, "your name."

The name is there, but that is not all: "I have engraved you." Consider the depth of this! "I have engraved your person, your image, your circumstances, your sins, your temptations, your weaknesses, your wants, your works; I have engraved you, everything about you, all that concerns you; I have put all of this together here."

Will you ever say again that your God has forsaken you when He has engraved you on His own palms?

His Joy

His Joy

WRITTEN BY: ADMIN - NOV• 06•13

John 15:11 (NIV): “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Joy is not an emotion but a state of being. It is not dependent on circumstances or on people; instead, it is a stand-alone condition that anchors the soul. The Bible calls the joy of the Lord our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). In fact, that is the source of Jesus’s strength as He faced the Cross of Calvary (Hebrews 12:2). How incredible that Jesus imparts to you and me the ability to persevere through difficult situations with the exact same source of strength He used to endure His most difficult situation…joy! We do not have a High Priestwho is unable to relate to our trials and heartaches (Hebrews 4:15). Christ knows each one of us personally and intimately. He knows the circumstance each of us are dealing with right now, and He offers us His joy. Jesus never offers you and me anything apart from Himself, because whatever the situation, HE is what we need.

Be filled with the joy of the Lord today!

Assurance in Trials – Dr. Charles Stanley

Assurance in Trials – Dr. Charles Stanley

Romans 8:32-39

We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise.

First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.

Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always (Heb. 13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven (John 14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.

Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.

In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

TRIUMPHANT PROCESSION

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession..."2Cor2:14 wp.me/p29yfQ-yz #Win

How to Get the Most Out of Your Work – Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 20:25-28 

According to Scripture, work is to be part of the believer's life. We all have daily tasks, and many Christians hold jobs outside the home. Some people view these as drudgery. Others wake up excited to face the day's challenges. What is your outlook?

There is an important biblical principle to follow if you are going to enjoy your work: View yourself as a servant. This might be hard if you feel unappreciated or your coworkers are difficult. But consider the example that the Lord set for us. He was rejected, tortured, and crucified. Yet Jesus was willing to serve even His tormentors with His attitude and, ultimately, with His life. Colossians 3:23-24 states, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . . It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

When I was in college, this proved to be a valuable perspective. I worked in the bleachery, which was the hottest and most uncomfortable job at the local textile mill. At first, I focused on how much I disliked this position. But I decided to change my attitude and look for opportunities to serve Jesus through my work. For the first time, the heat did not bother me. In fact, I was eager to share my faith with those around me. People listened and responded because they noticed my demeanor.

No job is perfect; each position has negative aspects. But we can find joy and excitement even in the most menial task when we decide to work for God. Choose to serve Christ in all you do. After all, why face each day with dread when you could experience excitement and anticipation?